When a pipe bursts in a Lexington home, shut off the main water valve first and then switch off breakers near any standing water. A plumber can cut out the failed piece and check for other damage along the line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lexington.
Lexington's housing and water setup
Lexington has one of the older housing stocks in the area. The median home dates to 1969, around 68% were built before 1980, and about 14% predate 1940, from the uptown historic district to the Erlanger mill village. Pipes in those houses have often been repaired piecemeal, so a single break can sit right next to aging steel or brittle fittings.
The City of Lexington runs its own water system, with more than 192 miles of lines and over 10,000 meters, and its own natural gas and electric systems as well. If water is coming up in the street or around the meter, report it to Lexington Utilities. The City's water report says the City handles lead pipe removal while residents share responsibility for home plumbing, but it doesn't publish exactly where the City's piece ends, so ask the utility if the break is anywhere near the meter.
Patch or replace a section?
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| One clean freeze split in otherwise solid pipe | Cut out the split and join in a new piece |
| Break in old galvanized with rust around it | Replace the run back to a sound fitting |
| Repeated breaks along the same exterior wall | Reroute or insulate the line away from the cold |
| Leak on the yard line past the meter | Excavate and repair or replace the private service line |
Warning signs
- A dripping light fixture or a soft spot in a ceiling
- The sound of moving water with every faucet closed
- Wet insulation or standing water in the crawl space
- Sudden loss of pressure throughout the house
- A water bill from the City that jumps for no clear reason
Winter timing in Lexington
Most bursts here show up on the first mild afternoon after a hard freeze, when ice inside a cracked pipe melts and water starts moving again. Pipes in vented crawl spaces and on north-facing exterior walls are the usual culprits in Lexington's older frame houses. If you heat with gas from the City's system and your water heater is gas-fired, set it to pilot once the main is closed; if you smell gas, get outside and call 911 or the City's gas utility.
Residential irrigation systems in the city must have backflow protection, and those assemblies sit above ground. Drain and insulate yours before the first hard cold so it doesn't crack.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Lexington
Why did the leak only start once the freeze was over?
If the break is out in the yard, is it my repair or the water utility's?
Where in a house do supply pipes usually split?
How do I keep an outside faucet from bursting next winter?
More plumbing services in Lexington
Burst Pipe Repair nearby
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